Please critique my proposed build - Dual Totem Summoner + aura reduction

EDIT : Please see most recent post for my current status, would like to ask for advice on a big pathing decision...

Hi there

I always like to try a new build each league reset - in Anarchy I tried Dual Spark Totem since I had not tried it before. This time around I want to try a Scion of course, and since I have never played summoner I thought I would try one. But I have been toying with the idea of a general purpose one, with all the reduced aura reservation nodes, dual totem, most summoner nodes and dual curse.

I would really appreciate any constructive critique on my proposed build, and any answers to the burning question - am I spreading myself too thin and hurting myself by not focusing on one of : totem damage or summoning?

So here it is, lvl 80 build subject to change : Dual Totem Summoner Reduced Auras

For my totem choice well since I haven't specialised in an element I could try different totems but was leaning toward dual ice spear to freeze stuff for my minions... also because I am all sparked out form Anarchy ;)

Would love some suggestions / modifications / optimizations

Thanks for reading and best of luck!

^

I am very interested by this build - I actually posted a thread in the Gameplay forum in this regard http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/549790.

Although apparently the way to go would be witch, I am tempted to start a Scion. I already had a vague passive tree idea in mind very close to the one you posted.

So yeah, I don't think I have the knowledge to give any suggestions to your build at this point (especially given my limited experience to this game), but I am very likely to start a Scion based on the passive tree you posted.

In other words, you are not alone :), so do not hesitate to post any feedback on your build if you ever start a character based on it.

Cheers,


Dash

Hi there! Thanks for your reply mate :) I am looking over the build again, haven't had much chance to play. Ok so no Iron Reflexes but dual totems and summons could prove to be enough meat shields aye? Also could try for Eldritch Battery for more mana?

Here is the witch version I think, with Lord of the Dead, Eldritch Battery and increased flask effect 30% - what do you think?

Elemental Equilibrium 1 point away too..

Hey,


Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I think a witch would be a better way to go for this build...

Also, I am starting to think that totems and minions don't make a great synergy... Most people go minions and concentrate on auras and/or curses which is way more powerfull I guess for obvious reasons...

All in all, I think I'm gonna make a typical summoner witch + auras/curse, and then maybe try a Scion with dual totems and spectral throw.

Unless you think it is actually possible to combine Minions, dual totems, curses and auras?

Cheers,


Dash

PS: I actually like your witch build a lot!

Maybe I'd swap Eldritch battery with Chaos Inoculation though? That way you wouldn't have to bother about putting points in life nodes.

I have the feeling that Eldritch Battery would make you kinda weak and/or require alot of points in life nodes, no?

Hey again Dash4Ever - just wanted to update you on my progress and reply to your message.. I decided this time around that I wasn't going to absolutely minmax the shit out of the game - so I went for the scion because she was new, even though the witch may be better - and also wanted to try make my own build and not copy another one node for node.

Regarding the builds you are going for - just remember you can't make a dual totem spectral thrower - because with dual totem you cant deal damage yourself so spectral throw would be useless.

Ok so for the progress, gotta tell you I was feeling pretty weak for a while and almost rerolled a few times.. but finally the build is starting to take shape.

So far, the build : lvl 62

While levelling, I started off as spectral throw with LMP for my aoe, and heavy strike / molten shell / cast on melee kill for my single target - used a 2 hander. I went for dual totem really early though, and experimented with dual ice spear, dual ethereal knives and dual spark. So I levelled all the gems together. Minions of course were totally pathetic until late cruel and some passives invested in them.

I now find myself in an interesting position, I got my hands on a 6 socket soul mantle chest so I can cast a third totem - since I am poor I only managed to fuse it into two 3 links. So I tried something wierd and put TWO totem configs in there (since the chest has a built in spell totem, I effectively have 2x 4link totem setups. I played with throwing down two spark totems with fork and faster casting, then a third totem - ice spear with LMP and faster casting. Gotta say it was fun, one totem crowd controlling and freezing while the other two totems electrocute everything and my minions picking off the rest..

I know you asked how can minions, totems and curses and auras all synergise.. so it got me thinking... Dual ice spear is not ideal because everything freezes and shatters making it more difficult to replace my zombies or create spectres.. Spark is ok but I have only specced into the totem nodes - hardly any spell damage nodes and no crit / crit multi nodes.. and spark did get quite a nerf...

Also - to maximise damage I would need two curses - vulerability for my zombies and elemental weakness or something for the totems...

BUT then I thought to myself - ethereal knives is a physical spell and will benefit nicely from the vulnerability curse for my zombies! This saves me a few points so I dont need to go into dual curse nodes at the top of the tree.. could use the points elsewhere... AND if I raise 3x tentacle miscreations (the titty machine gun bitches from Lunaris) they also do physical damage! Even if I need a second curse I could get the unique ring that does just that. Also - the unique wand Moonsorrow is awesome for EK because it has 125% increased physical damage mod along with the cast speed and spell damage (correct me if I am wrong but I assume the physical % mod on wands affects EK..?)

So I am thinking when I manage to 5 link this soul mantle I will drop the double totem type novelty and gem for dual EK totems with more support gems.

Right now my setup is :



Its fun to place my 3 EK totems, hear that satisfying impact of the EK knives (instead of that fucking buzzing sound or annoying ice spear thrust) and curse and watch my 5 zombies and 3 tentacle bitches with multiple projectiles tear shit up... It reminds me of the undead ghost army Aragorn summoned in Lord of the Rings : Return of the King - where they washed over the city melting everything :D

Regarding auras - I am running Vitality and lvl 7 Clarity, my mana regen is good enough there. With those two auras I am at half mana, so I look forward to getting my reduced mana gem to lvl 20 and getting the last 2x reduced aura reservation 5% nodes.. This should allow me to run another aura.

Another interesting option is to get the Prism Guardian shield which has built in blood magic and reduced reservation 25% - then I can run an aura or two on my life, and maybe even Alpha's Howl for further reduced reservation :)

So hopefully some of this can be useful to you, or anyone else reading. I am currently in act 2 Merciless and will keep this post updated if anyone else is interested.. To answer your question Dash4Ever I think yes, dual totem summoner with curses and reduced aura reservation could really work :) Not saying this is a HC build haha, survivability ain't the greatest.. use your totems, minions and skellies and shields!

Hey Daegon! Many thanks for your circumstantial feedback!

Your build looks pretty fun, innovative and strong, I like it a lot! + you got some sweet setup there, congrats on the soul mantel: that's awesome!

All in all, I am pretty eager to try this build myself!

On my side I haven't had the time to play a lot: I started a classic summoning Witch (only lvl 24 currently)... but after reading your post I am now thinking to start a Scion based on your build :)

That said, just à quick question: I noticed you did not pick Minion instability : any particular reason for this? In the summoning guides I've read, people seem to consider this a powerfull passive.

Anyway, thanks again for your feedback, do not hesitate to post more info about your thoughts on this build.

Cheers,


Dash

Hey mate!

Good to hear from you again - maybe you dont have to restart as a scion?? I am sure we can work around it for a witch start which may even be better! Thanks for the kind words :) I guess the true test will come soon with mapping.. I need to drop some freaking MF and actually get some LIFE and RES :)

Anyway this is the build I have made on the passive tree for lvl 80 - I figured since I am commited to EK now that crit would benefit a lot, so note the crit nodes. Took 3 life/mana nodes for a little more survivability cos I am seriously lacking in that department, and I took your advice on the Minion Instability - I guess it will be useful for the skellies - other minions dont die too often thus far.

Also eldritch battery for more mana, gotta get that extra aura!

relinked my chest to 4 and 2 for EK + Faster Casting + Crit Damage + Faster Projectiles, then the 2 link for Summon Skellies + Faster Casting (Soul Mantle works wonders for this double setup - can summon 2 offensive totems plus the skellie summoning totem for distractions)



For witch version, it does seem for what I want to do that you fall short of a few life/mana nodes, but you gain Lord of the Dead. Guess its about weighing the differences.. Let me know what you decide to do :D

I was a dual sporking summoner for a while and then got bored to tears with it.
But I really liked the survivability of the dual totems doing all the damage whilst my minions acted as cannon fodder. Tried Fireball totems...liked the damage but was still missing something.

Then I tried Incinerate. Bingo.
I am 79 now and loving the setup. I am the boss killer extreme. The key to incinerate is Faster Casting and Faster Projectiles. I also favor GMP over LMP even the tool tip shows a massive drop in DPS ignore it....there is the shotgun effect with 5 streams of fire death you dont get with LMP. I cast two totems and everything dies in seconds. Bosses are even funnier. Kole takes about 2 seconds to die and I dont even have to enter the room.

And just when I thought it couldnt get better...I discovered Frost Wall.

Frost wall with a Duration gem now gives me a full 5 seconds of immunity while my totems destroy everything. Whats that? How do I shoot thru Frostwall? Incinerate is 100% pierce so it shoots right thru...I am immune, my totems are safe, and all monsters die.

The tool tip shows crappy DPS but dont look at that. At 79 with high quality gems it says I do 500 DPS with my Incinerate. But yet I can solo Piety Merciless in 6 seconds.

Remember that your skeletons and zombies are cannon fodder for this build. At end game I have actually reduced my mob size and even dropped my spectres (they were handy during the leveling stages). But if you want to try a real cool and little used build --- dual incinerate, with GMP, Fast Projectiles, Fast Cast, and your choice (damage gems, Blind works well, etc).